‘Hell yeah’: Diego Pavia says he deserves the Heisman Trophy
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Diego Pavia believes he deserves the Heisman Trophy.
After Pavia helped the 10th-ranked Commodores knock off No. 15 Missouri on Saturday, he pointed to the Vanderbilt defense and the team around him. “The only reason I’m up here is because I play quarterback for the team,” Pavia said at the outset of his postgame media availability.
He didn’t have eye-popping numbers against the Tigers. But his Heisman campaign won’t be built on eye-popping numbers. Instead, it’ll be built on an undeniable mindset that has revolutionized his team. Vanderbilt could make the College Football Playoff. At this point, Vandy could make the SEC title game.
And here was its quarterback, beset with a few chains, a “2TURNT” rope hat, and a pair of wired headphones as old as he is, draped over a Vanderbilt Football shirt. Vandy is cool again. Pavia (+750 via DraftKings) is a Heisman threat.
“Hell yeah, I believe it,” Pavia said. “We’ve just got to keep winning football games.”
Vanderbilt is 7-1 this season — its best start since 1941. The 17-10 win over Mizzou was Vanderbilt’s third win of the season over an AP Top 15 opponent.
Vandy won 7 games in Pavia’s first year with the team as well. Before his arrival, you’d have to go back to 2013 to find the last time Vanderbilt won at least 7 games in a season.
Prior to his arrival, the ‘Dores had lost 28 straight games to AP Top 15 teams. From 2000-23, Vandy had 3 wins in 59 tries against such teams.
If Vandy climbs in the next AP poll, it could potentially match the 1937 team for the highest AP ranking in Vanderbilt history (seventh).
Pavia completed only 10 of his 19 passes on Saturday, throwing for 129 yards and a pick. He ran 8 times for 20 yards and a touchdown.
He ranks 12th nationally in Total QBR. He’s outside the top 10 in total EPA as well. He doesn’t lead the SEC in total offense, or yards per play, or passing scores, or passer rating.
But he’s the quarterback of one of the best teams in the conference. And all the things that make him special have made Vanderbilt special.
Vandy launched his Heisman campaign last week. He was +1100 to win the award on Oct. 20. He took a step on Saturday. The more Vandy wins, the harder it’ll be to deny him, regardless of what the numbers say.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
